“That was…intense,” she said. “Was that all for me or were you thinking of someone else?”
Kalu’s moon of a face against his, his breath on Ahmed’s skin, young hardness in his hand. Fuck.
“All for you, love.” Ahmed’s body stayed relaxed; he knew better than to let tenseness translate.
“I’m flattered.” She giggled.
He tried to keep his hand from trembling as he stroked her skin and dozed off.
Saturday, 5:54 AM
Ahmed woke to a flurry of short knocks on the door. He broke away from Timi and stumbled to open it, still naked and bleary. The bouncer from the first bedroom was there, unmoved in the face of Ahmed’s naked scattering.
“Sorry to disturb you, oga. They are finished in the main room.”
Ahmed exhaled and leaned against the doorframe. It must’ve been almost sunrise.
“All right. I’m coming.” The bouncer nodded and left as Ahmed shut the door and turned to look at Timi’s body sprawled over the bed. He thought about waking her up to kick her out, but then he decided it would be far more interesting if Bola found her like that. His trousers were a crumpled white spill on the floor; he shook them out and pulled them on, then slipped out of the room and went down the corridor. Halfway down, he saw Bola striding toward him, her legs lithe and warm. He almost missed them. She slapped him as soon as she was close enough.
“You fucking bastard! I came to get Timi and your fucking touts wouldn’t let me pass.”
“That’s their job,” he reminded her mildly.
“Where’s my sister?” she demanded.
“In my bed. Follow the smell of pussy.” He caught her hand in midair. “Bola.”
She sucked her teeth loudly, drawing it out like okro. “I don’t even know why she would fuck you.”
“Maybe because you told her how big I am.” This time, she slapped him too quickly for him to stop her.
“Fuck’s sake, Bola!”
She tossed her hair and stalked off. He watched her ass leave and it mellowed the burn of her slap. Thursday faded into his peripheral vision.
“What’s the time?” Ahmed asked.
“Six,” Thursday said.
“Fuck.” He stepped into the parlor and looked at the carcass of the party. It had been picked apart and smelled like it.
“The cleaners are on their way,” Thursday told him.
“Good.” Ahmed couldn’t wait to put the whole place behind him; he’d burn it down if he could, particularly the office, particularly the memory of Kalu, especially Machi’s small tucked body. Speaking of. “Is the girl asleep?”
Thursday scoffed. “That girl is not going to wake up until afternoon.”
“Good. We’re going to Ruqaiyyah’s house.”
Thursday’s gone eye rolled towards him. “It was a full moon last night.”
The bouncer came up with Ahmed’s caftan crumpled in his hand. Ahmed took it and pulled it over his head. “I know. Let’s go.”
Thursday followed him out of the apartment, down the stairs. “I dropped Saidat at her house.”
Ahmed had forgotten about her. “Good.” There was some guilt. “How was she?” He got a look in reply.
“Are you sure?” Thursday asked drily.
Ahmed thought about it. “No, you’re right. I don’t really want to know.” Thursday climbed into the driver’s seat of the black Defender and Ahmed sat on the passenger side, earning a tired look from him.
“You know it looks bad when you sit in front.”
“Oh, I don’t care, Thursday. It’s fucking six in the morning. Who’s going to see?” Ahmed reclined his seat back as they drove out of the parking lot through the gates, then patted his pockets. “Where did I leave my phone?” Thursday reached inside his jacket and passed it to him. The phone was a dark weight of glass in Ahmed’s hand. He turned it on and it sang, alerts rolling and buzzing down the screen. The latest was from Timi.
Not very nice to just leave me in bed like that, she’d sent, just a few minutes ago. Bola was pissed.
She’ll get over it, he typed back. And I’m not nice.
Where are you? she asked.
Work.
Already?
Such is life.
Was that a one-night thing? Just so I know.
